We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Emmilia Cardoso ("EC").
Emmilia Cardoso is a brazilian architect that believes in the Architecture of Happiness, a concept that she fully implements. Active for more than 30 years in her hometown Rio de Janeiro, she is specialized in residence or corporate buildings design and landscaping. Her projects focus on quality of life, comfort and sustainability. With a taste for beiges, whites, and greys, she uses the vibrant colors in decorative objects and details. In order to soften the concrete’s shades of gray, she allows nature’s greens to peep through the windows and additionally uses wood details as they lend a sense of warmth.
Emmilia Cardoso Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Emmilia Cardoso.
Designer Interview of Emmilia Cardoso:
DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
EC : I am an architect who is passionate about what I do, I see art in architecture and I think the house is the place where wills are housed. The environments must arouse pleasant sensations, identified with who will live, so I do not worry about aesthetic tendencies.When I was little I loved to draw, I drew everything I saw in front of me. I simply believed in art, and according to Ezra Stoller, an american photographer architect "art is architecture".
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
EC : I have a habit of providing the participation of all. Here we give opportunities to encourage and listen to the opinions of architects and designers, encouraging a lot.
DI: What is "design" for you?
EC : When I think about good design, I think about functionality and the ability for someone who has never seen the finished item before ascertain the information he or she needs quickly. Great design adds beauty and style to that functionality.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
EC : I identify with the visual design, fashion design and interior design.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
EC : We rarely think about the design of the objects we use everyday. The fact is you're not suppose to; these everyday objects have been meticulously designed to work so well that you never have to notice them that's what good design is all about.The iPhone revolutionized cell phones. It took a basic object, with a purpose to only place and receive phone calls, and turned it into a hub of all electronic communication.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
EC : I design houses and spaces for living.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
EC : My favorite material is wood, moldable, can perform what is desired, is sustainable, heats the environments and is very beautiful.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
EC : When I come back from travels and design fairs
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
EC : When you design something that can't be recycled, I think it makes you a bad designer.I always focus on thinking that all spaces in a home should be well used. Nothing should be designed by chance or even not to be used. We must despise waste.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
EC : Thankful for being able to give people a better environment.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
EC : Knowing that by creating something different incited or aroused good emotions in my clients.
DI: What makes a design successful?
EC : When we think of the objects we use every day and do not notice their origin; it is because these objects have been meticulously successful.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
EC : Unfortunately the bad, because when the design is very good we don't notice, or we don't pay attention in it.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
EC : Designers are better equipped than any other profession to offer solutions to issues such as pollution, climate change, and resource depletion."Scientists can show us what we should not do, but we need designers to show us what we should do."
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
EC : We are seeing teams of people from different disciplines spending time together from start to finish on a project, project as a team. "I think the product will become less static in the future. If you have 3D printing in a retail store, customers can customize their products to any size they want. There are so many ways that things will be designed just for you, as opposed to designed for standard sizes. "
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
EC : It was in 2017, making a baby room, and the next one will be a space at the Annual Exhibition (2018) of Casa Cor Rio de Janeiro.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
EC : I keep up to date through regular studies, readings and trips abroad. I also participate in the main interior decoration shows like Casa Cor - I maintain a Blog www.blogindicativo.com.br, with comments and suggestions on the most palpitating subjects of architecture and landscaping.
DI: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
EC : I always develop contemporary projects, sophisticated and bold touches. I like contemporary furniture, but I always find a way to introduce an old piece of the owner, respecting the idea that the house will belong to who will live.
DI: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
EC : I'm from Rio de Janeiro, the typical definition of a house in Rio de Janeiro is: despoiled, illuminated and with doors always open to nature, the dwelling in Rio is aimed at those who appreciate the stripping, highlighting the creativity of the carioca, that achieves with simplicity create a relaxed and tasteful atmosphere.
DI: How do you work with companies?
EC : I make a presentation of our company through our portfolio of projects, show the testimonials of clients, inform that we participate in lectures, write articles and we have won some awards. I try to know the scope of the project, I request an objective summary of the client's needs, I show the responsibilities of our company, I speak of our available schedules I present a schedule and if everything is approved, I pass a budget with the value of the investment.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
EC : Let them check their portfolios and listen to customer testimonials.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
EC : Being constantly traveling, participating in the best world design fairs, besides being in the habit of informing me regularly, I feel comfortable saying which product can be used or not, or even know the innovations of the construction market.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
EC : First Sofas, than armchairs, lamps, tables 5 and carpets.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
EC : I separate my schedules very well, I believe that currently one should not waste time with anything that does not add value. It's no use trying to expand time, because it will not happen, it's better to learn how to manage it. No life project is worth it if it does not have quality. In other words, being happy is essential.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
EC : 1. Define and write down your goals and objectives;2. Establish deadline for each activity;3. Determine how you will accomplish them;4. Separate the materials needed to make a mural.5. Draw or paste pictures of what you really dream;6. Focus on the result.7. Choose a place for you to see the mural daily.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
EC : Positives:• Maintain a good relationship with good professionals, colleagues, partners and subordinates• Focus on results, profitability, how many contracts you send, and how many projects went and what the profit was.• Work and lead team leaders.• Communicate well, so that you are understood among customers, suppliers, employees.• Orient your client, he follows guidelines of what you are offering, be clear on the schedules, number of visits, travel costs, hiring logs.• Have initiative - Always act first.• Be creative in business management, brainstorm meetings, which should only be 30 minutes.• Have a good interpersonal relationship, have power and ease in relating to people.• Innovate - in your work, focus on what your business will do better, create and be a different company every year.• Be an entrepreneur, be at the front, to improve the performance of results.Negative• Procrastinate
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
EC : Always be reading and observing what goes on around you.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
EC : Attention to the details.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
EC : I believe that a well-informed team, who likes to read, participate in seminars, conferences and have good software programs at hand.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
EC : Having clear focus and goals of what is important at the pre-determined time.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
EC : I think it varies from one to another depending on the complexity, it can be between 2 or 12 months.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
EC : What is the latest trend?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
EC : When I was a recent graduate and I was hired to be a team leader for an important project in my city.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
EC : They are mainly individuals and are companies linked to some type of trade.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
EC : I like challenges that relate to "creating" that goes from a piece of furniture to a residence.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
EC : The next job is always a challenge, it's like my first project.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
EC : I work as a team.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
EC : We are doing a project in Madrid, and it was a great challenge to get to Madrid, and see that everything is being done as scheduled, beautiful design and wonderful finishing materials.
DI: How can people contact you?
EC : Through our sites:www.emmiliadiascardoso.com.brwww.blogindicativo.com.brwww.arquitetaindica.com.br
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
EC : I am happy to help people live in a better world.